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Tuesday, 8 January 2008

The History of Mandailings

I must say that this is quite a comprehensive history of the Mandailings, something that resonates with the history that I hear from my own family rather than with some revisionist versions that even claim we are part of the Bataks rather than the other way around whereby the Islam embaracing Bataks submitted to the Islamic Mandailing rulers.

(Extracted from Lembaga Adat Mandailing Malaysia souvenir book).

THE ORIGINS

TheMandailing was said to have originated from Munda a district in MiddleIndia. From the 6th century they were wanderers as they were refugees from attacks by the Iraqi Aryan that were expanding their influence.

After crossing the Himalayan Range they settled for a while in Mandalay, the capital of ancient Burma. It is probable that the name Mandalay itself is a corruption of the word Mandailing according to the Burmese dialect.

However yet again they had to wander due to frequently warring Burmese clans. At the time they crossed the Malaccan Straits, that was said at the time was only a narrow strait unlike the present day straits that separated the Malay Peninsular and Sumatera.

The Munda successfully crossed the narrow straits and set up a kingdom in Batang Pane, Portibi, sometime around the end of the 6th century.

The Kingdom Munda Holing at Portibi became famous and expanded its territories to a vast expanse of the Sumatran coast and Malay Peninsular. This elicited the anger of Maharaja Rajenderacola who attackedMunda Holing and the other coastal states in the 9th century.

The Munda Holing armies commanded by Raja Odap-Odap was defeated by Rajenderacola who came to power in the whole of Batang Pane district. His fiancee Borudeakparujar crossed Dolok Maela (in commemoration of their ancestral crossing of the Himalayas ) holding a lump of soil at Portibi to proclaim a new kingdom (Menempah banua).

The second kingdom in Sumatera was set up in Pidoli Dolok known as the kingdom of Mandala Holing meaning the area of the Keling people. At the time they were still of the Hindu faith worshipping Dewa Siva (Lord Siva).

In the 13th century, The Majapahit kingdom attacked Lamuri, Padang Pariaman dan Mandailing. Again the Mandala Holing kingdom was devastated and destroyed.

The inhabitants that were not captured escaped to the jungles and mixed with the indigenous people. Thus it was the (clan) Marga Pulungan was formed that meant picked up from pieces. In the 14 and 15 century, Marga Pulungan set up three Bagas Godang on top of three hills, but this was no longer a big sovereign, only village governments.

In the middle of the 14th century, there is a legend that three children of Yang DipertuanPagar Ruyung named as Betara Sinomba, Putri Langgoni and the youngest Betara Gorga Pinanyungan had set up two new kingdoms.

Betara Sinomba was banished by the Yang Dipertuan of Pagar Ruyung for the crime that started from his younger sister adiknya Putri Langgoni. Both siblings and their followers then wandered and set up a kingdom in Kota Pinang. This Yang di Pertuan Kota Pinang that bestowed the raja-rajas toKota Raja, Bilah, Kampung Raja and Jambi.

His younger brother Betara Gorga Pinanyungan was found guilty of extra-marital relationship with the cousin from his mother side Putri Rumandang Bulan. As they were no other heirs to the throne thus the putri was bethrothed to Raja Gayo.

When Putri Rumandang Bulan was taken to Gayo she brought along a bunch of ripe betel nuts that from which she proceeded to plant a seed each at the location the entourage stopped at until they reached a river bank.

At the river bank Her Highness delivered a son that was tough and powerful. As the entourage tried to continue their journey to Gayo colossal thunder and lightning struck them that they could not decamped. That was the situation they faced in seven tries. Finally a Datu advised that the child should be left on a large rock under an angsana tree where he was born as the prince will be a great raja there.

Putri Rumandang Bulan refused to leave his prince as she wanted to die with him when Raja Gayo in the future comes to know of that she is no longer a virgin.

In such a state a rainbow appeared upon which seven bunian (fairies) descended followed by DewaMangala Bulan dari Kayangan. The Puteri was bathed in the nearby river scattered with the flowering angsana petals. As she came out of the river, signs that she had previously delivered was no longer noticeable. Thus the river was soon to be known as "Aek Batang Gadis" meaning the river that restored a women's viriginity.

The child that was left under the angsana tree was found by the hunting party of Sultan Pulungan that gathered him.

The child that was raised in a barn under a house later managed to escape and established a kingdom that defeated Sultan Pulungan. The child that was knowned as Sibaroar or the barn under the house finally became a great king in Penyabungan.

As the king in Penyabungan that is known to the people as hidden by his mother thus his kingdom was known as the kingdom of "MANDE NAN HILANG", in short Mandailing or Mandehilang. He is also the founder of the clan Marga Nasution., meaning orang sakti or enchanted people.

As the proclamation of the royalness of Sibaroar given the title of Sutan Diaru spread far and wide even to Pagar Ruyung, thus the Yang Dipertuan Pagar Ruyung reminisce of the pregnant Putri Rumandang Bulan that was taken to Gayo. His Highness and entourage then embarked and followed the palm trees that were planted by his ex-lover until they reached the river named "Aek Batang Gadis" and brought to the court of Sutan Diaru at Penyabungan.

After a long council sitting a matron called Sisauwa showed a ripe betel nut yellow silk cloth that enclothed Sutan Diaru when he was found under the angsana tree at together with the necklace that was put on him by his mother Putri Rumandang Bulan. Thus it was made known to the Yang Di Pertuan Pagar Ruyung, that Raja Sutan Penyabungan is his son. Thus the citizens of the state was delighted and Sutan Diaru was offically enthroned as the Raja Penyabungan.

At the same time a messenger from Kota Pinang came to Penyabungan to Yang Dipertuan Pagar Ruyung who was there to invite His Highness to enjoin his elder brother that was for a long time separated. Thus the Yang Dipertuan exlaimed, "We will visit my brother at Kota Pinang." from that day onwards Kota Pinang was known as Tanah Abang or Land of The Elder Brother, and Penyabungan was known as Tanah Adik or Land of The Younger Brother, to commerate the event of Betara Sinomba inviting his younger brother Betara Gorga Pinanyungan at Penyabungan to come to Kota Pinang even though his younger brother had a larger kingdom in Pagar Ruyung.

Kingdom of Sibaroar @ Sutan Diaru at Penyabungan finally expanded to take control of the whole of Mandailing Godang that was had very fertile lands.

THE ISLAMISATION AND EXODUS

In the 19th century around 1816, Tentera Paderi or The Paderi Army under the command of Tuanku Imam Bonjol sent Raja Gadumbang Porang or better known as Tuanku Mandailing to Islamise the Mandailing lands.

The Paderi army entered Mandailing through Muara Sipongi and invaded Penyabungan in early 1816.

Then the Dutch entered Mandailing around 1835, resulting in many of the raja-raja of Mandailing to resist and later retreated across the Straits of Malacca and settled in Tanah Melayu or Malaya.

The Mandailing ex-warlords of the paderi army had played an important role in the history of Tanah Melayu or Tanah Pelarian(land of refuge). Names like Tuanku Tambusai, Raja Asal, Raja Laut and Sutan Naposo made their marks in the history of conflict in the civil wars of Pahang and Selangor.

The shifting of the Mandailing people started for so long, usually because of family conflict, menjae or merajuk (sulk/brood), lost in wars or refugees or fugitives from various wrongdoing of the local customs (adat) or laws (hukum), the fall of Penyabungan to the Paderi Army in 1816 and the subsequent movement to Islamise the Mandailing lands berikutnya. Some where sent to the Peninsular.

However the main exodus started in earnest as slaves and some were escapees who ran away together with their families in search of a more peaceful living area.

The attack by Raja Gadumbang Porang or Tuanku Mandailing with the paderi army was not too strenous but when the brutal Tuanku Lelo repeatedly attacked Penyabungan and hunted Yang DipertuanHuta Siantar and his followers; the mass killings forced a major part of the Mandailing citizens to escape to Tanah Melayu, around 1816 – 1832.

Yet there are some of the raja-raja Mandailing that joined the Paderi Army like Patuan Maga, BagindaSidursat and others to resist Tuanku Lelo. Under the leadership ofTuanku Mandailing several of the warlords of the paderi army finally attacked the fortress of Tuanku Lelo at Padang Sidempuan and defeated him.

One of the princes or anak raja Mandailing named Jahurlang given the title Tuanku Bosi who was the son of Patuan Maga joined Tuanku Imam Bonjol before the fall of benteng (fort) Padang Sidempuan. He was given the trust by Tuanku Imam Bonjol to protect Benteng Bonjol in the year 1837 – when he was negotiating with the Dutch.

Jahurlang atau Tuanku Bosi was given the Al-malik sword owned by Tuanku Rao who died at Air Bagis as a sign of taking over command at Bonjol. Sadly again the Benteng Bonjol could not be defended against the Dutch army strength and Tuanku Bosi and his followers was forced to retreat to Benteng Dalu Dalu.

Seeing the Al-Malik sword in the hands of Tuanku Bosi, thus Tuanku Tambusai planned his and his followers withdrawal and Benteng Dalu Dalu was turned over to Tuanku Bosi.

Tuanku Tambusai escorted by Tuanku Raja Asal and Abdullah Zawawi (son of Tuanku Bosi) that was later known as Raja Laut then withdrew with their followers to Tanah Melayu.

Benteng Dalu-Dalu fell to the Dutch in 1838. Tuanku Bosi was also killed after being seriously wounded in the battle.

SETTLEMENT IN MALAYA

Tuanku Tambusai, Raja Asal and Raja Laut landed in Malacca and went to Lukut to find a place to settle in. Later on Raja Laut was commanded to return to Sumatera to locate the remnants of the paderi army to planned a fight back against the Dutch. Raja Asal left Lukut as there was a small conflict there, he went to Kelang to open a tin mine around 1843. TuankuTambusai looked for a secluded settlement in Negeri Sembilan and settled down there.

Raja laut criss-crossed between Sumatera and Tanah Melayu while attacking the merchantment of the Dutch, English, Chinese, and the Indians that crossed the Malaccan Straits. Thus he was called Raja Laut or King of the Sea.

Around 1850, Raja Asal left Kelang and migrated to Pahang with his followers. In Pahang Raja Asal involved himself in the tin mining industry and the marketing of tin ore.

Raja Asal managed to ingratiate himself into the court of Bendahara Tun Ali and befriended the families of the Pahang court. He was a good friend of Tun Mutahir the son of Tun Ali. Tun Ali died in1857. Raja Asal also marriedWan Putih or in the Mandailing language called Siputeh.

Civil war in Pahang broke out in the years 1857 – 1863, and Raja Asal was involved in the war as he was married to the family of Tun Mutahir that had become the new Bendahara (Chief Minister) Pahang yang baru.

The civil war was won by Wan Ahmad the younger brother of Tun Mutahir. Seriously wounded Tun Mutahir withdrew with his children Wan Da and Wan Aman together with Raja Asal to the borders of Selangor. Wan Putih was collected by the slave of Raja Asal called ‘Sipuntung’, and taken to Selangor.

In Selangor Raja Asal returned to the selling and buying of tin ore. The Paderi warchest that was entrusted to him was invested to finance the remnants of the Paderi Army that became his followers. Thus he was in constant contact with Raja Laut that was despatched to gather the balance of the Paderi Army in Sumatera. Tuanku Tambusai that was in poor health no longer played a major role to rejuvenate the strength of the Paderi in Sumatera.

When Tuanku Raja Asal made the decision to support Raja Mahadi in Perang Kelang (Klang War) to oppose Raja Abdullah (in the year 1866) he contacted Raja Laut to obtain ex-soldiers of the Paderi army for the war.

When Kelang fell and later Kuala Lumpur also fell to the Mandailing people, Raja Asal commanded his slave Sipuntung untuk membunuhto kill Dato’ Bandar Yassih of the Bugis tribe as he was brutal and tortured the Mandailing people.

The entry of Tengku Kudin as the representative of Sultan Abdul Samad that ruled Selangor from i 26hb. June, 1868, changed the political scenario in Selangor. Tengku Kudin sought the support and assistance of the English.

Even though in the beginning Raja Asal, Sutan Na Poso and kapitan Yap Ah Loy were good friends but in the year 1871 they were in conflict with Yap Ah Loy due to the business of tin ore.

In May 1872, Raja Asal and Raja Laut took their army to attack Kuala Lumpur. They set their fort at Petaling Batu, where Jalan Cheras is now, together with 2,000 ex soldiers of the Paderi army from Sumatera. A battle broke out between the forces of Raja Asal/Raja Laut and the forces of Kapitan Yap Ah Loy that was assisted by Captain VanHagen and Captain Cavalier who was soundly defeated where 730 of their soldiers were killed.

The success of Raja Asal and Raja Laut to capture Kuala Lumpur fromi Kapitan Yap Ah Loy and his allies forced Tengku Kudin to request assistance from the army of Pahang and Pulau Pinang.In the middle of 1872 Pahang colluded with Tengku Kudin to defeat Raja Asal that was supported by the Mandailing , Rawa (Rao), Batubara and Minangkabau people previously of the Paderi army. The mentioned Raja Asal was given the title of Tuanku Raja Asal – not meaning that he is the Raja that rules the Mandailing lands, the title Tuanku is the title for the Commander of the Paderi Army. Raja in Tanah Mandailing is called Baginda, not Tuanku.

At the end of 1872, the Pahang army attacked the fort of Raja Asal in Ulu Kelang. the army of Pahang under the leadership of Imam Perang Raja Rosu (Tok Gajah) was defeated by the army of Raja Asal commanded by a Panglima (General) from Mandailing named Jabarumun, that was entrenched in Ulu Kelang.

The wife of Raja Asal named Wan Putih (Siputih), together with the Telu people stoutly defended another of Raja Asal fort that is now called as Siputeh, in honour of her name in admiration of the Mandailing people.

In March, 1873, again Raja Rosu and his army from Pahang attacked Ulu Kelang with better equipment. As assistance from Raja Laut could not land in Kelang whereby they landed in Teluk Mak Intan instead, thus the Raja Asal fort fell to the Pahang people.

Raja Laut together with around 1,000 Batak people had recently converted to Islam landed in an area now called Batak Rabit as their ears and noses were grossly bangled that hung out.

Raja Laut crossed a river that crossed the middle of a field that was called by them as Aik Batang Padang or now knowned as Sungei Batang Padang, even though batang in the Mandailing language is sungei or river.

In their journey to Ulu Selangor, they received the news of the defeat of Raja Asal at Bukit Nenas thus they encamped in Ulu Bernam/Slim to await Raja Asal that was heading to to the state of Perak.

Before meeting with Raja Asal at Slim/Ulu Bernam an agreement was reached so that Jabarumun/Raja Barumun is despatched to get Sutan Na poso (Sutan Puasa) that was fortified in Ulu Langat to arrange a counter attack on Tengku Kudin and Raja Rosu. However Sutan N a Poso was not so confident since Raja Asal did not join the combat force that was only lead by Jabarumun/Raja Barumun.

The combat force returned but midway they still managed to attack the Chinese in Pudu and Ulu Kelang. Their shops were burned and killings occurred in both areas.

Raja Laut and his followers did not join Raja Asal to go to Changkat Piatu, they instead settled in AirKuning and Banir in the state of Perak. Raja Laut left his eldest son named as Basir Nasution or better known as Syeh Basir a religious teacher in Air Kuning.

Raja Laut returned to his old lifestyle of criss-crossing the Straits of Malacca until he was struck down in a sea battle with the Dutch navy in Labuahan Bilik.

His son Syeh Basir Nasution returned to Sumatera to collect his family members but he did not settle down in Air Kuning. His eldest son Ja Akob or known as Jakub stayed on in Banir and Air Kuning.

Raja Asal was accepted to court of Raja Idris the prince of Mahrum Teja that was is power in the Teja area, and was give a vast mining concession in Changkat Piatu. Raja Asal was also given the authority to collect taxes on tin ore in the confluence of the Pinji river and Kinta river. A tax collection stockade was then built by Raja Asal. juga telah diberikan kuasa mengutip cukai bijih timah di muara pertemuan Sungai Pinji dan Sungai Kinta. As it was a stout stockade (pengkalan yang teguh) finally it was called as Pengkalan Pegoh as per the Perak dialect pronounciation.

Raja Asal also established a Mandailing people settlement in Changkat Piatu, so many of the Mandailing people gathered in Changkat Piatu. The Rawa people was put at Gopeng under the leadership of Panglima Jabarumun or better known as Imam PerangJabarumun.

The wife of Raja Asal that followed him after their settlement in Bukit Nenas was captured by the Pahang army walked in search of her husband until the reached an area near Pusing, where she settled down with her followers while waiting for the despatch of Raja Asal to call for them menjemput mereka . The settlement is now known as as Siputeh. That is why there are two places called Siputeh, each in Selangor and Perak.

It was stated that in the year 1874, when the Pangkor agreement was signed there were Perak ministers that was dissatisfied. Since Raja Asal was a brave and of vast experience in warfare he was visited by several of asking him to intervened in order to expel the Englishmen from Perak.

Raja Asal however decline their request for the intervention in the Perak conflict as he is too old and tired to war after fighting all his teens and adulthood. menolak permintaan mereka untuk campurtangan dalam pergolakan di Perak kerana beliau telah uzur dan letih untuk berperang sepanjang usia remaja dan dewasanya. The conspiracy to kill J.W.WBirch was not entered but Raja Asal gave his most trustworthy slave Sipuntung as a sign of his involvement to cleanse this land from the intervention of infidels that he had opposed since his conversion to Islam.

Nonetheless Raja Asal never was a Penghulu (headman) of Mukim Belanja, the first Penghulu Belanja was Raja Bilah, nephew to Raja Asal. At the time of the killing of J.W.W Birch in 1875 Mukim Belanja did not exist.

At the time J.W.W . Birch was killed Raja Asal was already taken ill and no longer was able to manage mining matter nor collect taxes on behalf of Raja Idris (Sultan of Perak). As a result he was in debt of $3,000.00 to the authorities.

In the time he was ill it was Raja Bilah that managed all the affairs of Raja Asal. Finally Raja Bilah requested Raja Asal to hand over full authority to him so that he can repay all the debts.

After six months of the authority being hand over to Raja Bilah was the debts fully settled.

Raja Asal in his old age and suffering from the effects of his losses and failures was no longer an active participant in such affairs so the affairs were fully managed by Raja Bilah.

Tuanku Raja Asal passed away in 1878 and was buried in Changkat Piatu in the confluence of the Pinji river and Kinta river. To this day the tomb of his stands proud in Changkat Piatu cemetery.

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